Arraignment held for rape suspect

By Tara Kinsell

Former Staff Writer

John Robert Lohr

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CARMICHAELS – A Cumberland Township man accused of raping a young boy in his care was extradited from West Virginia Wednesday and was arraigned before Greene County Magisterial District Judge Lee Watson.

John Robert Lohr, 56, of 671 Ceylon Road, Carmichaels, was charged Aug. 22 in Watson’s court with rape by forcible compulsion, two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, corruption of minors and indecent assault by forcible compulsion.

Lohr is a member of the advisory board for Greene County Children and Youth Services, which placed the boy in his care.

The allegations against Lohr were made Aug. 18 at the state police barracks in Waynesburg. According to a criminal complaint filed by Brown, Lohr allegedly held a knife to the boy’s throat, held him down, threw him into a chair, and forced him to participate in sexual acts on numerous occasions from October of 2009 to Aug. 14.. The boy told police the attacks occurred at Lohr’s residence and at the Big Bear Lake Campground in Bruceton Mills, W.Va. The boy told Brown that Lohr threatened to kill him and his family members if he told anyone.

When confronted by family members Aug. 18, Lohr fled after first asking them to give him an hour before police were called. When he was missing for 24 hours, concerned that he may try to harm himself, Lohr’s family called 911. He was found Aug. 19 in Fayette County inside a vehicle he drove to Ohiopyle State Park by park rangers.

Trooper William Brown of the Pennsylvania State Police said Lohr had ran a hose from the tailpipe into the vehicle in an attempt to commit suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. He was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh where he recovered from the attempt. Several days later he was sent to the behavioral medicine unit at Fairmont General Hospital in Fairmont, W.Va. where West Virginia authorities would eventually arrest him Aug. 29 as a pre-trial felon.

Lohr’s bail has been set at $750,000 straight cash. A preliminary hearing is scheduled before Watson at 1 p.m. Sept. 17.